Windshield defrosting device



June 25, 1935.

B. WELLER WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 1e, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 en WZZez Bymo Attomey June 25, 1935. B. WELLr-:R

n WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING DEVIC 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1935 Invento Atto'mey Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES lPifrENrv oFFlCE- This invention relates to a unique automotive lappliance or attachmentY conceived and especially designed to cooperate with certain existing vparts of a conventional automobile in a manner I `5 yto function as a `novel windshielddefrosting means. Y Y Y It has been discovered that the warm air currentV from the engine of an automobile while in operationy may be used for many comforting purposes. Morerecently, howevenit has been found that much of the otherwise wasted heated airwaves may be vsatisfactorily utilized for warming the windshield to a degree sufficient to melt ice deposits and to otherwise free the outer surface of the windshield of frost. It'follows, therefore, that mechanical devices have been perfected to simply raise orelevate a portion of the inner end of the automobile hood to provide a vent through which the warm air current may pass in order to impinge against the windshield for :defrosting purposes'.

The foregoing idea of course, is not 4broadly new. The present invention,v therefore, relates to an improved attachment susceptible of connection -with the hood or the ccwling for the pur- .poseA of formingthis warm 'air defrosting vent. In the belief that I have evolved and produced a more simple and economical device for this purpose, I would state, by way of introduction, that inaccordance with my conception I have perfected a satisfactorily usable device susceptible of fulfilling the requirements of the trade ina safe and dependable manner with a view toward promoting safer'and reliable driving during cold weather spells. y

rComprehended broadly and briefly, the improvement constituting the novelty herein introduced comprises one or more cushioning elements adaptedfor disposition between the hood and cowl in such a manner as to bow or are the hood upwardly a distance suicient to define this defrosting vent, said elements being permanently or detachably applied to either the cowl or the underside of the hood as desired.

Other and more specific features of the construction will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cowl and hood in relation to the body showing the approximate disposition of the improved device and illustrating the way in which the parts ing device or adapterl I I with a pair of swingable are'maintained inan outoftheway ineffective position.

Figure 2 is a view like Figure l showing how the device is used in practice. i'

vFigure 3 is an elevationalview of the complete 5" 5 .attachment or device.

Figure 4 isa top plan view of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through the central portion'of the device.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal detail section taken noted by the numerals 8. y The numeral I0 is utilized to designate the ange or ledge on which the innerends'of the hood sections rest. This is usually covered byV felt or some such similar packing means. y frosting attachment is applicable either Vto the underside of one of the hood sections or it can beapplied to the exterior of the cowl. Moreover,

it is permissible to employ either one or two of these hood lifting or venting devices. `Referring now to the attachment as shownin Figures 3 to 6 inclusive, I first call attention tothe adapter or attaching means. Specically, this is in the form of a rubber suction cup I I of appropriate proportion. It is provided with an upstanding boss I2 30 and is centrally bored to accommodate the retention bolt I3. The square shank portion`of the bolt passes through a correspondingly shaped pasvsag'e'in the bore and the threaded end of the bolt I4 carries a retaining nut I5 held against displacement by' a cotter key or the like IB. This assemblage of parts includes innerand outer wear washers I1 and I8. Located between these washers in overlapping relation areflat spring arms I9. These arms are of duplicate form and of 40 appropriate proportion. They are sufficiently exible and preferably of longitudinally bowed form to'serve as bow springs to hold the rubber cushioning elements or heads 20 in place. These elements 20 may be in the form of simple rec- 45 tangular blocks fastened in a suitable manner on the outer end of the arms. That is, they may be riveted or welded or otherwise securely mounted on said arms. In practice, that is, when in use, as shown in Figure 2, these blocks serve as risers or spacing members at which time they are interposed between the ledge IIJ and the adjacent overlying edge portion of the complemental hood sections. Broadly, then, we have an attach- As before stated, the implOVEd de ment of details coming within thefeld of inven- Varnhem hingedly attached thereto at their innerr ends, said arms being preferably disposed in overlapping relation and provided on their outer ends with heads or equivalent devices 20. The heads can be swung to an 0ut-ofthe'-way position when not in use as shown in Figurel, or they can be `swung into operating position as shown in Figtion-cup Il is moistened with water and stuck in place at thedesired point. If it is desired to attach the cup `Vmore or less permanently, it can be vglued in placeor attached by shellac. When not in use, the arms may be swung to the 'o'ut-o'fthe-way position shown inigure l at'which time 'i the spring' arms l5 serve to maintainl theY rubber heads 20 in `anti-rattling contact with the 'under-y side of the hood. YWhen in use,`the arms areswung to diverging position to locate the heads between VVVthe, hood and the cowl, -this ,being sufficient to elevate Vor bow the inner end ofthe hood to allow Vthe warm air to escape between it and the cowl.

The cowl serves to deflect the warmiair currents against the windshield andthis warms the. wind-V shield sufciently to prevent the accumulation of frozen'condensation, or to lremove accumulated Yasthe case: maybe. Ineithergposition, the arms I9 serve Yto maintain theblocks Yor heads 20 in more or less anti-slipping and anti-rattling h position.

It is thought that persons skilled lin ,the art tojwhich the invention relates will be able to .obtain a clear understanding of the invention-` prising a spacing element adapted fordisposition after considering thev description in connection 'Y with thedrawings Thereforaa more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.y

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangetion claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired. Y s

Having thusdescribed ,the invention, what is claimed-as new isi ;1. An attachment of the classV described comprising a spacing1 element, .a` carrier arm Vat vtach'ed thereto, and a rubber suction cup at the inner end of Vsaid arm for fastening it in place.

' 2. An attachment ofthe class described comprising'ea spacing element, a carrier arm attached thereto, a rubberV suction `cup' at the inner endr ofv thevsaid arm for fastening it in place, said arm being in the lform of an elongated flat flexible spring.y q v t Y' 3.. A device of the class described comprising a rubber suction cup, a pairof longitudinally bowed spring arms attached at their inner ends to said cup, and rubber heads fastened. to the outer ends l i of said arms in the manner and for the `purposes described.

4. Ina structure of the class described in combination, an automobile windshield a cowl, aV Y hood structure, a spacingelement removably insertable between the hood and the cowl for the e purpose of forming a hot airV vent between said hoodl and cowl, an arm attached to said spacing element, and means for`-separably vjoining the outerend of the arm tothe hood, whereby to permit said spacing element to be swung inland out of place. Y, y

5. In a structural assemblage ofthe class described, in combination, an automobileincluding 'a' windshield, a cowl, a hood structure, a rubber block-like spacing member interposedy between thehood and the cowl in such a way as to elevateltheihood tofform a vent between the hood and cowl, a flexible arm attached at its inner end to said'spacing member, and means forattachlng thela'st named position to -avoid rattling. f -'1 7.- 6.'.An attachment ,of the class described; Ycornprisinga spacing element adapted for disposition ,Y

between a hood and cowl in the manner described, afcarri'er'and .the retaining armi-attached at one end to Vsaid element, and quick detachable mounting'means secured Atothe.opposite end of said arjen, saidmeans having the adjacent endfof the arm pivotally connected thereto.

. 7. AnY attachment of the class described, combetweena `hood and cowl in the manner described,

larcarrier and the retaining arm attachedat one arm pivota-lly connected thereto, said-*arm being in the form-of a flexiblefmetalj spring of sucient inherent resiliency to hold thespacing element in yieldable contact with the hood when said, element tweenahood and cowl to formavent'in themanner'describedand attaching and retaining Y'means secured to the opposite ends-,of said Aarms-ina manner to'permit thearms to r be pivotedor swung with respect thercto for tha-purposes described. v ,Y ,Y f .BEN WELLER. 

